"I had contacted the Outagamie County district attorney with my concerns — this guy's going to do something stupid. He's going to do something dumb. He's going to hurt somebody. I had actually written to his judge, Judge Gage, and let him know that they needed to pull bond," Dalton told reporters Wednesday.

"I know that he (Flatoff) is violating the conditions of his bond by consuming alcohol, smoking marijuana, also he has been threatening a lot of people who he believes are responsible for his current charges," the letter stated.

Steve Erato, owner of Eagle Nation Cycles, looks through the front window before heading into the motorcycle shop for the first time since the hostage situation Saturday before a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Mike Petersen, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, heads to the door of the motorcycle shop before a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Athea Callahan, Michael L. Funk's daughter, hugs Bob Barbiaux (left), a close friend of Funk's, and Mike Petersen (right), one of the hostages who was in Eagle Nation Cycles with Funk during the hostage situation, before a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Ryan Moderson, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, takes a moment to collect himself as he speaks about the hostage situation during a press conference at the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Bob Barbiaux (left), a close friend of Funk's, walks into the shop's garage with Mike Petersen (right), one of the hostages who was in Eagle Nation Cycles with Funk during the hostage situation, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Ryan Moderson, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, speaks about the hostage situation during a press conference at the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

The bar in the basement of Eagle Nation Cycles that owner Steve Erato said he stayed behind while in communication with the police department during the hostage situation on Saturday. Erato held a press conference at Eagle Nation Cycles Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Mike Petersen, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, points out where he was laying on the ground as police entered the building while speaking at a press conference at the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

The area of the garage that Mike Petersen said he was in during the hostage situation at Eagle Nation Cycles Saturday. Steve Erato, owner of Eagle Nation Cycles, held a press conference in the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Later in the letter, Dalton said, "I worry about losing the money, but more importantly I worry about him hurting someone. I wish I could just revoke the bond."

Dalton said he received a reply from Gage's office on Monday — two days after the hostage situation — that said he could request the bond be returned at Flatoff's next court date. Gage dated the letter Dec. 2.

"This could have all been prevented. If they would have actually just done one sobriety check on this guy, they would have pulled the bond," Dalton said.

'Helped me when I was down'

Dalton bought Flatoff's motorcycle in August, after Flatoff was arrested for his sixth drunken driving offense. He paid a $3,000 bond and gave Flatoff $1,500 in exchange for the bike.

Flatoff was losing his tattoo parlor, Electric Images, and facing prison time for the OWI. Dalton wanted to help.

"He was actually somewhat of an acquaintance of mine, a friend of mine from years ago that helped me when I was down at one time, so I figured, 'OK, I'll try to find a way to help this guy out,'" Dalton said.

Steve Erato, owner of Eagle Nation Cycles, looks through the front window before heading into the motorcycle shop for the first time since the hostage situation Saturday before a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Mike Petersen, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, heads to the door of the motorcycle shop before a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Athea Callahan, Michael L. Funk's daughter, hugs Bob Barbiaux (left), a close friend of Funk's, and Mike Petersen (right), one of the hostages who was in Eagle Nation Cycles with Funk during the hostage situation, before a press conference Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Ryan Moderson, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, takes a moment to collect himself as he speaks about the hostage situation during a press conference at the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Bob Barbiaux (left), a close friend of Funk's, walks into the shop's garage with Mike Petersen (right), one of the hostages who was in Eagle Nation Cycles with Funk during the hostage situation, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Ryan Moderson, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, speaks about the hostage situation during a press conference at the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

The bar in the basement of Eagle Nation Cycles that owner Steve Erato said he stayed behind while in communication with the police department during the hostage situation on Saturday. Erato held a press conference at Eagle Nation Cycles Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

Mike Petersen, one of the hostages that was at Eagle Nation Cycles on Saturday, points out where he was laying on the ground as police entered the building while speaking at a press conference at the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

The area of the garage that Mike Petersen said he was in during the hostage situation at Eagle Nation Cycles Saturday. Steve Erato, owner of Eagle Nation Cycles, held a press conference in the motorcycle shop Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Neenah, Wis.
Danny Damiani/Post-Crescent Medi

About a month later, Flatoff started drinking heavily and called Dalton "at all hours of the night."

He threatened Dalton's family.

Dalton said Flatoff reported the motorcycle stolen to the Appleton Police Department, but they closed the case. Post-Crescent Media filed an open records request with Appleton Police to verify the information, but it has not yet been returned.

Dalton said he contacted the Appleton Police Department with concerns about Flatoff, as well. However, Sgt. David Lund said he could not immediately verify Dalton's claim.

Burglaries, OWIs

Flatoff's criminal history extends as far back as 1987, according to Wisconsin Circuit Court records and criminal complaints from Wood County. Flatoff, then 17, lived in Plover at the time.

In October of that year, Flatoff waited in the car while a friend stole $326 from a store in Rudolph. A few days later, he broke into a Wisconsin Rapids animal clinic and stole $50, two rolls of stamps and some keys, the criminal complaint said.

Prosecutors filed charges of party to a crime of masked robbery from the first incident and burglary for the latter — both felonies. Flatoff was found guilty in 1988, records said.

Since then, he has faced additional burglary, disorderly conduct, drunk driving and bail jumping charges. Before August, court records indicate Flatoff had gone 13 years without an OWI arrest.

Brandt Swardenski, Flatoff's attorney in the drunk driving case, declined to provide any information about his client to Post-Crescent Media.

"Unfortunately at this time I cannot give you any further information about Mr. Flatoff," Swardenski wrote in an email.